Metro Washington Council afl-cio

“The right to work, I had assumed, was the most precious liberty that man possesses. Man has indeed as much right to work as he has to live, to be free, to own property.”William O. Douglas served as U. S. Supreme Court justice from 1939 to 1975; his term, lasting 36 years and 209 days, is the longest term in the history of the Supreme Court. He is credited with saving the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and inspiring the effort to establish the right-of-way as a national park. As it was being discussed, he challenged the editorial board of The Washington Post to go with him for a walk on the canal after the newspaper had published opinions supporting Congress's plan to fill and pave the canal into a road. His efforts convinced the editorial board to change its stance and helped save the park.